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“India set an ambitious goods export target of $400 billion and achieved it for the first time. I congratulate our farmers, weavers, MSMEs, manufacturers and exporters for this success," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
How India's exports surpassed the $400 billion mark for the first time
This is the first time ever that exports have crossed the $400 billion mark. The previous best was $331.02 billion which was achieved in 2018-19.
Pointing out the target was achieved nine days ahead of schedule, Modi tweeted that this translated to $33 billion worth of exports every month, $1 billion of exports every day, and $ 46 million worth of exports every hour of the year.
India set an ambitious target of $400 Billion of goods exports & achieves this target for the first time ever. I congratulate our farmers, weavers, MSMEs, manufacturers, exporters for this success.— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 23, 2022
This is a key milestone in our Aatmanirbhar Bharat journey. #LocalGoesGlobal pic.twitter.com/zZIQgJuNeQ
India has added approximately $25.19 billion in exports so far in March and is expected to reach approximately $410 billion by the end of this fiscal year.
Despite the devastating second wave of Covid-19 in April and May of 2021, exports remained positive. Since March of last year, it has remained above the $30 billion mark.
In terms of monthly exports, December saw a 38.91% year-on-year (y-o-y) increase to $37.81 billion, the highest figure ever. The trend continued in 2022, with exports totalling $34.6 billion in January and $34.57 billion in February, representing a 23.4 percent and 25.1 percent increase, respectively.
According to data released by the ministry of commerce & Industry on March 14, India's Merchandise exports for the period April-February 2021-2022 Stood at $374.81 billion as against $ 256.55 billion during the April-February 2020-2021, registering a growth of 46.09%.
Engineering and petroleum products saw an increase in their share of exports. The three categories, along with gems and jewellery, accounted for half of India's merchandise exports.
While categories like electronic goods and agricultural commodities saw a rise in exports, their share in the outbound shipment has not risen.
Non-oil and non-gold exports rose to $284 billion in FY22 up to February 2022, a rise of 20% from FY21. Product-wise data for March is not yet available. Their share has risen from 75.1% of all merchandise exports in FY20 to 75.8% in FY22 up to February 2022.
Engineering goods remained India's largest export item, contributing 26.9% of all merchandise exports in the first 11 months of FY22.
Exports of engineering goods rose 32% upto February 2022 on an annual basis. Compared to the pre-pandemic year of FY20, exports in this category are up 28%.
Exports of petroleum products saw the sharpest rise at 114% from FY21, led by a rise in crude oil prices. Compared to FY20, they registered a rise of 30%.
Electronic goods, organic and inorganic chemicals also saw a rise in exports, even though their share in total exports remained the same as in FY20.
Gems and jewellery exports and readymade garment shipments lost share compared to the pre-pandemic year, while rice — India's single largest agricultural export — made up for 2.3% of all merchandise exports.
What led to the Increase in Exports?
One of the primary reasons for the increase in exports is increased pent-up demand, which had decreased as the Covid pandemic forced nations to remain under strict lockdown, affecting global trade.
Furthermore, an increase in domestic manufacturing due to production-liked incentive (PLI) schemes and the implementation of some interim trade pacts has resulted in an increase in exports.
In its mission to promote locally made products in the global market, the Centre implemented a series of steps to promote exports of both goods and services and that includes the -
Introduction of Refund of Duties Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP): This scheme was implemented by the GOI to facilitate exporters more efficiently. This replaced the pre-existing MEIS scheme.
The main objective of this scheme is to reimburse all exporters on taxes as well as duties that were previously non-reimbursable. This gives exporters new benefits for exporting goods and services outside the country of India and promotes international trade.
Rebate of State and Central Levies and Taxes (RoSCTL) Schemes: RoSL plays a vital role for the exporters by providing zero-rated taxation on apparel and made-up products. This scheme has enabled the exporters to increase traffic, enhance competitiveness among the global market, and compete against countries such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam, who enjoy zero taxation.
This also helped the traders who export to the European Union (EU), India’s largest export market for the apparel sector, facing a tariff variation of 9.6 per cent.
GoI has implemented the RoSL scheme on 7th March 2019 to March 31, 2020, through IT-driven Scrip System to prevent delay and ensure swift distribution of products.
Other schemes include the launch of Common Digital Platform for Certificate of Origin to facilitate trade and increase FTA utilisation by exporters, promoting districts as export hubs by identifying products with export potential in each district and addressing bottlenecks, and promoting ease of doing business.
The Importance of Exports
The amount of merchandise exported by a country is critical to revenue generation and economic growth. Several economists have pointed out that increased exports help nations grow rapidly in terms of GDP and domestic output.
Exports are extremely important for the overall growth of a country’s economy and also for global trade. In this era of globalisation, most leading economies in the world are also major exporters.
For instance, China is the world's largest exporter of goods, followed by the United States, Germany, and Japan. India is also climbing the ranks as it expands its global export footprint. India is currently one of the world's top agricultural exporters.
Exports provide millions of small business owners and corporate firms with access to a larger global market to sell their products.
It is worth noting that exports not only help governments generate additional revenue, but they also help exporters — both small and large businesses — expand operations due to higher profits.
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O2 has announced that it is working with AT&T Digital Life and tado° to bring a unique smart home proposition to the UK in summer 2016.
After a limited trial of AT&T’s home management and automation service in Europe last year, O2’s parent company Telefonica has now confirmed that UK will be the first commercial market for the smart home platform.
While the telecommunications firm will deliver the software behind the platform, smart thermostat maker Tado and other third parties will provide the hardware.
A smart home platform
By brokering this deal, O2 is combining a leading platform, smart home device, and service provider, which will see customers enjoying the everyday benefits of smart technology in their homes.
The all-digital, fully integrated, wireless home automation system can be managed from a smartphone, tablet or computer, and O2 plans to offer a range of devices from door locks to smoke sensors to link up to the single hub.
David Plumb, O2’s Digital Director, said: “We are pleased to announce our collaboration with AT&T for their Digital Life platform which will integrate old and new devices around the home, and tado° for their truly smart heating control. We are also keen to hear from others who want to join our ecosystem.”
O2 engineers will install the home hub, as well as any devices wanted by its customers. The hub will also have a 4G SIM card that can act as a back-up broadband service.
“At O2 we are building an ecosystem that will deliver a complete smart-home experience. By partnering with the very best device, platform and service providers, we will be able to give people the smartest tech for their homes,” Plumb said.
O2’s smart home platform will be launched in summer in selected areas north of London, before a wider roll-out later in 2016.
Smart home technology in the UK
In the UK, there are a host of competing schemes offering smart technology, primarily in the form of internet-controlled central heating. Scottish and Southern Energy, British Gas and Google’s Nest are some of the most popular; although O2’s offering of bringing a mainstream platform together with different devices and applications will be more unique.
As reported by the Financial Times, according to researchers at Strategy Analytics, there was a 30% increase in the number of UK households with some form of smart home system in 2015. This brought the total number to 4 million, or around 14% of homes in the country.
The research also found that the average smart home spends £256 on the technology, representing a £940 million market.
The partnership between AT&T and O2 was announced at the CES conference in Las Vegas.
Edited from sources by Cecilia Rehn.

domain: news


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A supermarket has been mocked after opening a meat-free butchers shop.
British supermarket Sainsbury’s has been accused of pandering to a vegan minority by opening a three-day pop-up shop of entirely plant-based meat alternatives.
Customers hoping to find steaks and sausages at the Sainsbury’s butchers in London’s Bethnal Green found themselves sorely disappointed.
They were offered a non-meat selection including “Sweet and Smoky Barbecued Pulled Jackfruit, Cumberland Shroomdogs, Veggie Ribz, Mushroom Sausages, Pea-protein Mince, and Moroccon Vegbabs.”
But it appears the move may have backfired with many Sainsbury’s customers left bemused.
One angry social media user fumed: “Why? A Butcher sells meat? You wouldn’t go to a Greengrocer’s for steak???”
Another added: “What next? Tesco launch vegetable-free Greengrocers?”
But James Hamilton, a Buyer for Sainsbury’s, defended the move.
He said: “Our Meat-Free Butchers has been launched to encourage people to get up close to the products, try what they like and take home some valuable cooking advice and recipe inspiration.”
0 comments on “Meat-Free Butchers Mocked”


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Verano Holdings Corp. (CSE: VRNO) (OTCQX: VRNOF) announced its financial results for the third quarter ending September 30, 2022, as revenue increased 2% sequentially and 10% year-over-year to $228 million. The FactSet estimate that averages 12 analysts was for revenue of $227 million. Verano attributed the revenue growth to strength from adult use sales in New Jersey.
The company delivered a third-quarter net loss of $43 million, versus a net loss of $10 million in the second quarter and the net loss of $13 million in last year’s third quarter. The company took a $69 million hit for income taxes versus last year’s $27 million. The net loss per share was 13 cents.
“I am very pleased with our performance in the third quarter and how our team demonstrated focus and adaptability in driving our business forward in an increasingly challenging environment,” said George Archos, Verano Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “In the face of economic headwinds, industry dynamics and legislative uncertainty, we delivered revenue growth and strong Adjusted EBITDA margins, underscoring our focus on superior operations and efficiency. We significantly bolstered our growing product portfolio by scaling our signature Verano brand across core markets, introducing our value flower and extract brand Savvy, launching Ric Flair’s Ric Flair Drip Cannabis line in partnership with Tyson 2.0, and most recently, releasing a low-dose, high-function edibles line, BITS, which combine tailored adaptogens with cannabinoids and 5 mg of THC to appeal to a broad base of cannabis consumers. We also continue to see positive results in New Jersey, where we’ve further cemented our position as a market leader, evidenced by our strong retail performance and growing wholesale business. Finally, we are also pleased to have completed the refinancing of our $350 million credit facility, which gives us flexibility in our capital structure and the ability to reduce our cost of capital. I remain optimistic and confident in our business as we continue to maintain focus on driving operational quality and efficiency as we further position Verano for future growth.”
The company continues to have a solid cash cushion of $76 million. Verano also reminded investors that it refinanced a $350 million credit facility with enhanced flexibility to reduce capital costs.
The company continues to expand at a blistering speed. Verano opened 11 new MÜV dispensaries in Florida during the quarter. It also opened new Zen Leaf dispensaries in Wheeling and Clarksburg, WV, and New Kensington, PA; relocated Zen Leaf Jessup to Elkridge in Maryland to a better location and retail space. Verano also increased its New Jersey footprint with the introduction of adult-use sales at Zen Leaf Neptune on the Jersey Shore.
Following the end of the quarter, Verano opened another two dispensaries in Florida. The company now has 119 dispensaries and 14 cultivation and processing facilities with more than 1 million square feet of cultivation capacity.


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It's about time to write off high-growth tech stocks, Goldman warned, saying software carries the highest multiples since the tech bubble.Marketsread more
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Iran will surpass the internationally agreed levels of its low-enriched uranium levels in 10 days, the country's atomic energy body said Monday.Politicsread more
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Investors could see a 40 percent return on Ford stock as the automaker restructures its business and boosts its bottom line, according to Goldman Sachs analysts.
Goldman upgraded the company to buy from neutral and raised its 12-month price target to $12 from $9, sending shares up 3.3 percent in premarket trading Monday. The move implies a 33.6 percent upgrade from Friday's close. Combined with a 6.7 percent dividend yield, which Goldman called "sustainable," that puts the expected gain just over 40 percent.
"While we still expect a downward earnings trajectory into 2019 (North America profit under-pressure), we believe next year will represent trough earnings and the combination of a refreshed product cadence globally as well as cost improvements from strategic initiatives will begin to take hold," analyst David Tamberrino said in a note.
Cadence refers to the pace at which a company releases product, which Tamberrino said has lagged to six years in North America and China. The company is expected to up the pace starting in 2019.
Ford's announcement of $7 billion in restructuring of its cash spending over the next five years will help "improve its plant footprint and cost structure," Tamberrino added.
Ford shares are off 28 percent year to date. The company reported a $991 million profit for the most recent reporting period.
—CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.


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Retailers know that social shopping presents a new, real opportunity, but many can’t quite figure out how to integrate social experiences with their e-commerce websites.
Zappos.com, the online shoe and apparel shop, cracked the code early. At Digiday’s Retail Summit this week in Laguna Beach, Calif., Alice Han, ux designer/product lead at Zappos, spoke about the unique challenges of social commerce.
“It’s really hard for a brand to inject themselves between people and their friends,” she said. “A lot of companies have tried Facebook stores. They weren’t successful. Part of the reason was that Facebook is like hanging out with your friends at a bar. That’s not to say that Facebook isn’t a great entry point to shopping.”
Social networks might be a place to talk to customers and boost traffic to retail websites, she said, though it might not be the best for direct sales. So who is doing it right? Han pointed to startups like Poshmark.com and the Facebook app Soldsie as companies doing interesting experiments with social retail. Soldsie, for example, allows users to buy products through retailers’ Facbeook pages by simply typing “sold” into the comments field.
Here’s what she learned from watching them, and from her own time at Zappos. Larger retailers looking to boost social sales take note:
Treat social commerce as research and development.
“Do a ton of research about your users, user needs, and what are the gaps are in their shopping experiences.”
Create a culture of experimentation.
“You want to be a mad scientist. You want to experiment and see what works and doesn’t work.”
“At our office, we do a ton of A/B tests. Even from something as small as the way you’re displaying an image can make a difference.”
Learn quickly and iterate.
“If you have an idea, you don’t need to make it pixel perfect and cover every single use case,” said Han. “If you can cover the idea and the concept on a very basic level, and quickly learn how users will engage with it, that’s sufficient to see if you should invest more in the product.”
Watch the full presentation below.
Image via Shutterstock
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Tyson Foods has expressed confidence it can grow its business in the US frozen food sector, a category in the spotlight amid Nestle's continued challenges in the market.
Nestle, the largest frozen food supplier in the US by sales, has seen its business suffer in a category under pressure. The world's largest food maker is working on a series of ways to revive sales but this week admitted the division only has a finite amount of time to improve its performance.
Tyson is the second-largest frozen food business in the US. The division generated US$3.6bn of sales, according to IRI data for the 52 weeks ending 25 January, compared to Nestle's $7bn. Tyson generated group revenue of $37.6bn in its fiscal 2014 year.
The company's US frozen business is centred on two segments – poultry and protein-based breakfast items. Speaking at the Consumer Analyst Group of Europe investment conference today (18 March), Andy Callahan, the president of Tyson's retail packaged brands division, said growth from the businesses had fallen below the group's longer-term forecasts. However, he insisted Tyson saw "great potential to grow" in the sector.
"We're in categories within frozen that, over the last several quarters, have been performing below the longer-term projections [and] that has been more due to acute issues. We have reset our chicken manufacturing base and one our breakfast portfolio we did a significant amount of pricing, which has flowed through," Callahan said.
According to IRI data for the 52 weeks to 22 February provided by Tyson at the conference, the company's frozen protein breakfast business was outpacing the category. However, Tyson has seen its frozen prepared poultry arm fall faster than a category in a decline. Nevertheless, announcing Tyson's first-quarter results last month, president and CEO Donnie Smith did say the company had regained some market share in frozen cooked chicken.
Speaking at CAGE, Callahan said: "We have over a 50 share within our two largest categories in frozen and we believe they have great pot to grow. They've got potential to grow due to the strengths of the brands but also due to the strong innovation pipeline to help support that."
Industry watchers have suggested frozen food has suffered as US consumer habits evolve. Many of the attributes formerly associated with frozen foods – freshness, quality, health – are now linked to fresh alternatives.
Callahan argued there was no "consumer issue" with the frozen category in the US. "For example, within our breakfast category, millennials are some of the highest-indexed consumers in some of the categories in which we compete," he told investors and analysts at CAGE. "I believe the categories in which we compete and we've been able to grow are where we work with innovation, bring consumer-relevant solutions and invest in. We have demonstrated the ability to be able to grow."
He added: "We start with the consumer. We bring benefits to them and we bring it to them in the form and in the section of the store that we think can solve that problem the best. We've demonstrated that within frozen protein breakfast, which, over the last five years, is one of the leading categories within the total grocery store despite being in the frozen section."


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New applicants are now also required to pay for digital fingerprinting, and some gun activists aren't happy.
"New gun legislation that's coming in is really going to knock our business down. Probably for the next four to six weeks we're going to have a hard time selling any regulated firearms because it's going to take that long for the Maryland State Police to implement the new procedures to get the handgun qualification license that need to be," said Eric Exline, store manager of Hendershots in Hagerstown.
A crowd gathered at Lawyers' Mall in
One of the reasons for the rally; some gun lovers, like Exline, say they feel the Maryland State Police went around the law to implement the new legislation.
"There are some things that they're thinking that the state police have kind of interpreted on their own, that maybe they shouldn't have. That's kind of the argument I’ve seen today through the session," Exline said.
Michael Faith, marketing director of Hendershots also reacted to the new gun laws.
"The law says if you apply for a hand gun license you have to get it within 30 days," Faith said. "I don't think that's going to happen right now."
The Maryland State Police brought in other law enforcement agencies to help get through all of the new gun applications. According to their website the current back log has almost 50,000 applications. The number of applications processed as of September 20, has just over 52,000.
"No handguns being sold in the month of October," Faith said. "It will have a chilling effect on gun stores in
Eric Exline found the silver lining though.
"The positive for us is that it really sparked a lot of sales. I mean, we've been really busy because of it. People wanting to purchase beforehand," said Eric Exline.
The legislation was proposed by Governor O'Malley back in January, after the shootings at


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How Luxury Marketing Will Look Like in 2018
The concept of luxury is changing, just like everything we are surrounded by is, like our preferences and sometimes passions. Consumer expectations of luxury continue to rise, and that what used to be luxury is now seen by the current generation of consumers, everyday experiences. And, as always, technology has a big part in this change as it makes everything easier,closer and more affordable, therefore what some years ago was considered luxury today might not be so. And just like what today is luxury in the years to come might not be anymore. The definition of luxury is changing, while “upper luxury” appears.
According to Deloitte’s “Global Powers of Luxury Goods 2018”, the world’s 100 largest luxury goods companies generated sales of US$217 billion in FY2016 and the average luxury goods annual sales for Top 100 companies is now US$2.2 billion. The report discusses the trends and issues that are driving the luxury industry. It also identifies the 100 largest luxury goods companies based on publicly available data for FY2016 (which they define as financial years ending within the 12 months to June 2017), and evaluates their performance across geographies and product sectors.
The growing importance of non-western markets for the luxury goods industry has been supported by supply chain leadership, technological innovation and international investment. These factors will help maintain further strong
growth in these geographical markets.
Deloitte’s “Global Powers of Luxury Goods 2018” points out:
Luxury brands have refocused their business strategies to capitalise on these changes. Giorgio Armani is engaged in an in-store installation collaboration agreement with Colombian artist Marta Luz Gutiérrez, while Louis Vuitton is conducting an advertising campaign using a
building designed by the late Mexican architect Luis Barragán. Rising prosperity in major cities and growing formal market power over the black market will ensure sustained Rest of the World (ROW) demand for luxury goods. To succeed in this context, luxury players should focus their investments on digital connectivity, upwardly mobile consumers and bold business models, which are key components of the
personal luxury industry today.
Some aspects that marketers must pay attention and act on in 2018:
Still according to Deloitte, collectively, Millennials and Generation Z will represent more than 40 per cent of the overall luxury goods market
by 2025, compared with around 30 per cent in 2016. Unlike Baby Boomers, many Millennial luxury consumers expect to interact with brands across a range of digital platforms, rather than only through traditional channels. Millennial consumers are also important for in-store shopping and expect a high-value, customized experience. Luxury brands should seek to change their business models to meet this demand, for example by providing more loyalty
programs and invitations to in-store events.
Customize your approach according to your audience. Personalization is still key as a marketing technique to be used as 45% of luxury consumers are asking for personalized products and services. With different expectations, younger
shoppers seek a personalized shopping experience that seamlessly integrates both online and offline platforms. This shift has motivated demand for connective technology such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence
(AI). By using AR and AI technologies, luxury brands can provide a personalized consumer experience, reach a wider audience, deepen product experience, and build stronger customer relationships. In parallel, the development of technologies such as voice commerce and the Internet of Things (IoT) are reshaping the entire luxury industry.
Luxury brands positioned as reliable sources of AI-driven recommendations are improving how they engage with consumers. More widespread adoption of AI is also making consumers increasingly reliant on suggestions and advice
provided by their various devices, rather than making decisions based on personal experience.
Social media becomes an important marketing tool for luxury as well. Instagram became the leading social media platform for fashion designers. Gucci more than doubled its Instagram followers between 2016 and March 2018, with successful Insta-campaigns such as #TFWGucci.
In future, the biggest challenge for luxury brands will be to make optimum use of social media without compromising their brand values. The success of a social media strategy will be converting “likes” into an interactive and engaging experience for customers.- Deloitte
An omnichannel approach – onnichannelluxury
A true omnichannel global market environment would require luxury brands to close gaps in customer experiences across channels, to offer a seamless, unified brand experience irrespective of the device or physical touchpoint used. Therefore, each channel needs to interact with and support
others to establish a single brand presence. Demand for an omnichannel approach is a natural development from the spread of digital technology and
e-commerce markets. During this process of change, the ability of luxury brands to leverage available inventory will be a key differentiator.
Digital must remain a priority to define an omnichannel strategy compatible with target expectations. The percentage of online sales perceived as being additional, and not a cannibalization of, physical sales is decreasing each year, with China the least cannibalized country to date.
“Luxury brands should develop their mobile strategy: 55% of luxury consumers buying online use their mobile phones versus personal computers. Peaks appear among the youngest generations and Chinese consumers, 75% and 77%, respectively, of whom use mobile. Social media and influencers are gaining power. For the first time, social media is the first source of information and the channel of primary impact used by true-luxury consumers, followed by magazines and brand websites. Five platforms (Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, Weibo, and QQ) are dominating the social media world, but Facebook is losing momentum to Instagram in the Western world and QQ is losing momentum to WeChat and Weibo in China,” states in “True-Luxury Global Consumer Insight”, the fifth edition of an annual study by The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Altagamma.
Millennials: Consumer Aspirations Are Disrupting Luxury
Collaborations with streetwear brands and artists are becoming the norm for Generation Zers and Millennials. “Collaboration covers demand for newness in a less risky way. It gives brands a cool edge and strengthens brand awareness as well as increases willingness to buy the brand. Collaboration is increasingly in demand and turns out to be a very effective purchasing incentive,” said Olivier Abtan, a partner in BCG’s Paris office and the global leader of the firm’s luxury, fashion, and beauty topic.
Unlike “absolute luxurers,” who buy luxury items exclusively, millennials do not hesitate to mix and match. According to BCG’s study, about 55% of this group trades down to buy handbags or T-shirts from cheaper brands, or mixes their style by buying sneakers and luxury shoes from luxury niche brands (including luxury sports). This trend appears to fulfill consumers’ need to create their own style. When they do look for different brands, it’s because luxury brands don’t have offerings in certain categories or because of the Millennials’ desire to have a unique style, express themselves, and seek out niche brands.
Use iconic personalities in your communication
With all the big changes, some things are meant to last and take the test of time. Chanel’s iconic marketing history began with a print advertisement for its perfume, Chanel No.5, in 1921. Its first celebrity endorsement didn’t feature until 1954, with Marilyn Monroe. However, it wasn’t until 2005 when Chanel first adopted videography, and from here, the rest is history.
“Despite not adopting social media and integrating the platform with videography until 2009, its marketing strategy is nothing short of stupendous. Selecting admirable public figures such as Keira Knightley and Nicole Kidman to star in Chanel’s unmistakable short films, revived the brand as an iconic symbol of both cultural and digital relevance. With the use of video and social media integration, Chanel has grown to having more than 57 million social followers globally, the highest in the luxury fashion industry. The brand focused on Facebook as their initial social media platform, due to the video capabilities such as extended video length, that Twitter and Instagram do not support. For the brand’s primary consumer, the more wealthy and mature client, Facebook was the ideal platform for accessing this demographic,” wrote Little Agency.
According to Retail Insider, British Airways is encashing big on a recent study on sensory sciences by Oxford about how sound influences the taste of food. Based on the findings of this study, they launched a list of 13 in-flight tracks to enhance the taste of the meals served during the flight, providing a truly luxurious experience. Moreover, Soundwich in Portugal delivered gourmet sandwiches packed in metal boxes that play music chosen by the chef when opened.
More ideas you can see here.


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The D.C. City Council, in the face of an intense election-year lobbying campaign by restaurant and liquor store owners, is expected to reconsider today -- and possibly throw out -- a bill that would permit premium beer distributors to collect from retailers for credit purchases in half as much time as now allowed.
The decision to reconsider the bill, which was given tentative approval only two weeks ago, came after owners of liquor stores and restaurants such as Clyde's, The Hawk and Dove and Timberlake's complained through their trade associations that the proposal was special interest legislation designed to help four of the District of Columbia's largest beer wholesalers.
They maintained that the provision, if enacted into law, would drive up the price of beer, create serious cash flow problems for retailers and possibly force some stores and restaurants out of business.
Under current city law, all liquor, beer and wine wholesalers can permit their customers up to 45 days to pay for credit purchases. If the bill is not paid to any one wholesaler, the customer is forbidden from buying on credit from any wholesalers until the debt is paid.
Under a provision sponsored by Charlene Drew Jarvis (D-Ward 4) and tentatively approved by the council on June 8 on an 8-to-5 vote, the beer wholesalers would be allowed to collect in 20 days.
The Jarvis plan was tacked on to a proposal strongly favored by liquor dealers because, among other things, it would lengthen liquor store hours and permit them to make credit card sales.
Last Friday, Nadine P. Winter (D-Ward 6), who voted with Jarvis for the wholesaler-backed bill, changed her decision and introduced a proposal that would delete the Jarvis amendment from the retail liquor bill. Earlier, H.R. Crawford (D-Ward 7) had said that he would also reverse his stand and vote against the Jarvis amendment.
Late yesterday, Jarvis said she has decided to seek withdrawal of the entire retail liquor bill, including her amendment, so that a compromise bill could be drawn up for action.
Jarvis said she decided to ask for a delay after representatives of the restaurateurs and the wholesalers met for about an hour in her office yesterday.
"This is the kind of dialogue that should have been occurring a long time ago," Jarvis said. "If I hadn't moved the amendment , I don't think these guys would have ever sat down."
Spokesmen for the restaurateurs and liquor stores said yesterday that they would oppose withdrawal of the whole bill.
"The original bill has many fine provisions. We consider any effort to hold those fine provisions hostage to the wholesalers' backed provisions to be most unfortunate," said Stephen J. O'Brien , the lawyer for the 100-member D.C. Licensed Restaurant Group.
Lou Kressin, a spokesman for the Washington, D.C., Retail Liquor Dealers Association, said, "She knows her amendment is going down to defeat; it's a stalling tactic."
Both Kressin and O'Brien said their groups favor deleting Jarvis' amendment and then having the council adopt the original retail liquor bill, which would allow liquor stores to remain open longer, accept credit cards and advertise prices in windows
James M. Christian, a lawyer representing the four wholesalers seeking the change, said his group agrees with Jarvis' decision to withdraw the entire bill.
Distributors of four of Washington's premium beers, Schlitz, Budweiser, Miller's and Stroh's, have contended that their delinquent accounts are growing at an unacceptable rate that already has resulted in higher than necessary beer prices.
There are more than 1,600 retail establishments licensed to sell beer in the city.
Robert B. Washington Jr., a former city Democratic chairman who is the wholesalers' chief lobbyist, said beer distributors must pay their suppliers within 10 days of delivery as opposed to the maximum of 45 days allowed to liquor stores and restaurants.
He said the shorter pay period for distributors often forces them to get high-interest bank loans to stay afloat while waiting to be reimbursed.
Federal liquor rules permit retailers up to 30 days to pay for beer bought on credit, except in jurisdictions, such as Washington, that have their own laws.
Retailers argue that wholesalers should deny credit to late-paying customers, which they have the power to do, instead of trying to change the law. But distributors are reluctant to revoke a customer's credit because they fear the customer would switch to a competitor, said O'Brien, lawyer for the restaurant group.
Washington said federal antitrust laws prevent distributors from exchanging credit information and agreeing to deny credit to a particular customer. Thus, he said, they were forced to turn to the city council for help.


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Franchise Industry News & Announcements
Stay in tune with the franchise industry by keeping tabs on all your concepts of interest. We have hundreds of franchises sending us their latest news daily. Our daily news feed covers franchise expansions, financial reports, mergers & acquisitions, personnel changes, general announcements, conferences, product announcements, media coverage, and strategic alliances.
Restoration 1® has acquired the bluefrog Plumbing + Drain® franchise network with plans to aggressively grow the business across North America. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
Burger 21®, an award-winning “beyond the better burger” fast casual franchise, announced today that the brand’s first airport location at the Tampa International Airport in Airside A is open and serving guests.
Three’s company at 7-Eleven, Inc. The world’s largest convenience retailer announced that all three finalists will win a 7-Eleven® store in its first franchise give-away contest targeted exclusively to women entrepreneurs.
Rollins, Inc announced today that the company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Orkin, has expanded its presence in Central America, South America and Southeast Asia by adding six new franchises.
- Jul 18th, 2017
- By: Orkin
Tint World® Automotive Styling Centers™, a leading auto accessory and window tinting franchise, has opened a new location in Hutto, Texas.
As you fill your summer days enjoying the pool, backyard barbecues, family vacations and more, Merry Maids is sharing easy cleaning hacks to tackle some of summer’s toughest stains.
Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC today announced the brand’s expansion in the Caribbean with the opening of Roatán Sotheby’s International Realty on the island of Roatán off the coast of Honduras.
Music Go Round®, an established retail leader in the music equipment and gear resale space, is now registered to franchise in Canada.
Jimmy’s Egg® Franchise Group, JE Wolfin Village, LLC, is set to open its first location at 2225 South Georgia Street in Amarillo, to the public in July 2017.
Scooter’s Coffee has experienced tremendous growth over the past year, has increased its Nebraska presence with the company’s latest Grand Opening at 90th and Hwy 370 (766 Gold Coast Dr.) on Monday, July 24th.
Home2 Suites by Hilton, part of Hilton's (NYSE: HLT) All Suites portfolio, announced its newest property, Home2 Suites by Hilton Summerville.
SPONSORED Open a Elements Massage Franchise
When simplicity is the essence of your business model, clients and owners benefit. Clients want a predictably wonderful experience with every visit. You want a business that takes the guesswork out of daily operations, so you can focus on growth...
Juice It Up! has launched its delicious duo of Golden Summer Refreshers, the Chili Lime Mango Smoothie and Turmeric Fusion, to celebrate the healthy flavors of summertime.
With 18 openings already this year, TITLE Boxing Club announced today it has expanded its senior leadership team to further aid in the nationwide expansion of the brand.
FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of non-medical in-home care, today announced the opening of its new location in Northwest Dallas.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe announced today it experienced tremendous success in the first half of 2017 and accelerated its ongoing growth, opening 56 new locations as well as signing 74 franchise agreements.
Dunkin' Donuts, America’s all-day, everyday stop for coffee and baked goods, announced today its partnership with nationally recognized grocer, Price Chopper to open three restaurants in Kansas.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar isn’t just bringing its award-winning, chef-driven burgers to Norman. It’s also adding more than 80 awesome new jobs to the local economy!
Following an extensive restoration, Aleph Rome Hotel - an elegant property in the heart of Rome - has reopened as part of the exclusive Curio Collection by Hilton
Church’s Chicken® has realigned its marketing organization to create more meaningful connections to the beloved brand guests have enjoyed for the past 65 years.
Always Best Care® Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced today it has opened a new agency in the greater Dallas area.
MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a fast casual, “better burger” chain, is ready to satisfy the taste buds of burger enthusiasts in Billerica.
SPONSORED Open a Sirius Day Spa Franchise
The Health & Beauty franchise industry is ready for a change. New concepts continue to launch that specialize in single service offerings. Sirius Day Spa will become the market leader by combining this large breadth of services under one roof.
Zippy Shell, the fastest-growing business in both the moving and storage industries, announced today that it is now offering onsite, portable storage solutions to customers in key markets across the country.
Modern Acupuncture™ has built a foundation for success and is positioned to be one of the fastest growing franchises in the U.S. in the next 12 months.
Slim Chickens will be bringing its fresh chicken and unrivaled flavor to Weslaco, Texas – continuing the brands expansion in the state. This is the Hamideh Group’s second location in the area.
Pirtek, the world’s leading fluid transfer solutions company, is continuing its expansion across Florida and the United States with the opening of Pirtek Daytona and Pirtek Fort Lauderdale.
The Real Property Management franchise announced key findings from The Iceberg Report, an annual report and analysis of the American single-family residential investment industry.
Colorado Springs, Colorado is now home to its second Crunch Fitness center, which opened to the public earlier this month.
Alert your taste buds! Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (Red Robin) is two weeks away from bringing craveable gourmet burgers to Friendswood, TX.
Mosquito Squad, the largest and most trusted mosquito and tick control franchise in North America, announced today the launch of its second territory in Colorado.
In honor of National Hot Dog Day, Philly Pretzel Factory will be offering its delicious pretzel dogs for only $1 on Wednesday, July 19, 2017.


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(SPOT.ph) Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim announced his resignation earlier today, August 12, at a news briefing in Malacañang, reports the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Lim, who revealed that he has spent the past 56 weekends out of town, cited "personal reasons" as the basis for his resignation. "It took its toll," he said in an Interaksyon report.
In a press statement, Lim said: "My reason for resigning is personal. I would like to spend more time with my family. My responsibilities require a great deal of travel and time away from my loved ones," adding that he was satisfied that he has put up a strong foundation for tourism in the country during his tenure. According to Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in the Interaksyon report, foreign tourist arrivals increased to 3.7 million from July 2010 to July 2011, up by almost half a million compared to last year. Domestic tourism is also up with 28 million travelers during the first half of the year.
The Department of Tourism also just released the first of three videos promoting domestic travel yesterday.
For more on this story, log on to the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Interaksyon.
Watch GMA News’ report on Tourism Secretary Alberto Lim’s resignation


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Apple’s annual WWDC22 was held yesterday and it released four major operating systems. The company released the iOS 16, watchOS 9, macOS Ventura, and iPadOS 16. Shortly after the release of these systems, users are already spotting “plagiarism”. A Weibo user wrote, “When the macOS Ventura demo came here, I suddenly remembered the One Step of SmartisanOS”. Luo Yonghao, CEO of Hammer Technology (Smartisan), forwarded the Weibo message with the comment “Well, this year they let themselves go a bit, and copied four or five in one go. Last night, I saw some Hammer friends were angry again, but it’s not necessary. Jobs did so much back then. Product innovation, the difficult ten or twenty years in the middle are also regarded as fools by snobs; WebOS has been copied by Apple, but today’s people don’t even know it exists.”
Luo Yonghao said bluntly that “the success or failure of an enterprise depends on comprehensive capabilities and opportunities. It is useless to rely on products alone”.
Gizchina News of the week
Is Apple losing its innovative prowess?
As one of the focuses of WWDC22, iOS 16 has attracted continuous discussions among netizens after its release. What makes everyone complain is the gradual Android lock screen interface. In addition to supporting a custom lock screen, iOS 16’s new functions such as keyboard typing vibration, viewing Wi-Fi passwords, and hiding photo albums are all Android-Inspired.
The iOS 16 Earth super wallpaper is a direct copy of the MIUI 12 wallpaper which Xiaomi released in 2020. While Apple fanboys are still trying to defend the copy, the SmartisanOS copy hits the web.
It’s a good thing that Hammer CEO, Luo Yonghao, acknowledges the work Steve Jobs put in for the smartphone industry. Ten years ago, almost the entire smartphone market was copying Apple. We had Xiaomi smartphones which were a complete rip-off of Apple’s devices. Even the MacBook and other Apple products had Chinese copies. We are talking about copying a whole device here from design to hardware. Those were the years when Apple was innovatively active.
For the past three years, Apple has been innovatively dormant. The company has now moved from “doing it first” to “doing it better”. Apple is stuck at 25W charging while the Android end is already discussing 200W. However, this is not an issue for Apple fanboys because they believe that Apple will “do it better” when it gets to 200W.
However, it is high time we face reality. Apple is losing its innovative capacity, who knows what it will copy next.


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In a big technology revelation, global technology major Apple plans an additional physical button for workout-related functions in its Watch Pro. According to top tech observers, the move is in line with the company's quest to become more user friendly.
According to latest reports, new pictures of a third-party band-and-casing accessory allegedly moulded for the forthcoming Apple Watch Pro suggests the Garmin-style rugged device could feature additional physical buttons on the left-hand side of the screen.
The new Apple Watch Pro, aimed at hikers and athletes, is anticipated to have a larger screen and a new strong titanium chassis design, but up until now, rumours have not mentioned the presence of new buttons on the device, where the speaker slits usually reside, the report said.
Athletes and running watch wearers are generally known to prefer physical buttons over touchscreen controls since they are more responsive in rainy and inclement weather conditions, so the inclusion of the new controls would make sense, should the cases prove accurate.
The Apple Watch Pro is likely to cost significantly more than the Apple Watch Series 8, which is expected to retain the same chassis design as the current Series 7.
The tech giant is expected to announce four new iPhone 14 models at its “Far Out” event on Wednesday, which will showcase the new iPhone 14 lineup, Watches, and other products.


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Barnes & Noble investors reacted with pure unadulterated joy to the possibility that Microsoft is considering entering the e-book market and will acquire the company’s Nook unit for a whopping US$1 billion. Shares rose by a dizzying 24 percent on Thursday, when the rumor surfaced, courtesy of a report in TechCrunch that cited internal documents. By the close of Friday trading, shares were up another 5.6 percent, at $23.31.
The Nook is viewed as an underfunded underdog in the fight against Amazon’s Kindle, and to have Microsoft swoop in to save the day is almost a deus ex machina.
“Microsoft could potentially make it a fair fight,” Charles Lewis Sizemore, a Covestor portfolio manager, told the E-Commerce Times.
A Perfect Match
Microsoft has been showing signs of interest for some time: It has already invested US$300 million in the Nook and inked a revenue-sharing agreement for e-books purchased through Windows 8.
The deal would allow B&N to monetize a great asset that is not being fairly valued by the market due to negative perceptions of the old school brick-and-mortar retail model, Sizemore said.
As for Microsoft, it would provide “a new line of business to offset their slower-growing Windows and Office businesses,” Sizemore said.
“As Microsoft is aggressively competing in the tablet market, integrating a Nook app into Windows 8 devices could fill a niche that is not currently being filled,” he pointed out, “and e-books are a very profitable, high-margin business.”
The Xbox has evolved from a video game console into a home entertainment system, Sizemore noted, and adding the Nook to its fold could aid Microsoft’s strategy of building its brand in consumer and entertainment products.
It really is a match made in heaven, suggested N. Venkat Venkatraman, a business professor at Boston University.
“Microsoft is trying to explore every possible avenue to create the third mobile ecosystem around the Windows platform in phones and tablets,” he told the E-Commerce Times, and “B&N needs to offload the Nook business as part of its restructuring.”
One reason B&N shareholders reacted so happily to the possibility of a Microsoft purchase, he added, is that it appears Microsoft is paying a premium to get Nook as it rushes to create a third credible ecosystem.
B&N investors should be careful for what they wish for, cautioned David Cadden, a professor in the Entrepreneurship and Strategy Department at Quinnipiac University.
“Although sales in the last quarter were disappointing, the Nook is the single growth vector for Barnes & Noble,” he told the E-Commerce Times. “The sale of the Nook brings in $1 billion to Barnes and Noble; however, it’s not quite clear what Barnes & Noble could do with that money.”
Unfortunately, the big box bookstores may not have much of a future, Cadden continued. “The Nook was one element that drove traffic to such stores.”
Further, the Nook might not fare so well in Microsoft’s hands, he argued. “Its history with devices, particularly tablet devices, has not been particularly rewarding.”
No matter which company owns it, the Nook will have to continue facing down Amazon, Sizemore said, which “is an entrenched competitor and will be hard to unseat.”
Perhaps the only related industry that would be untouched by a Nook sale would be the tablet and e-reader market itself.
E-readers are mostly still loss leaders, Sizemore pointed out. “Many readers — myself included — use free reader apps on our smartphones. This is about high-margin e-books and their platforms, not the readers themselves.”


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Wrigley rolls out interactive mobile initiatives on gum packsWrigley rolls out interactive mobile initiatives on gum packs
March 11, 2015
Wrigley is rewarding Orbit and Juicy Fruit gum consumers who use interactive mobile technology to unlock prize points and exclusive brand content. Orbit Back-to-School campaign features SnapTags on 100 million packages of Orbit gum. SnapTags will also be featured on packages of Wrigley's Juicy Fruit gum to excite mobile fans of its wildly popular Serenading Unicorn.
Wrigley Orbit SnapTagDuring the Orbit back-to-school instant win campaign, in effect from July through October, 2011, the inside flap of gum packs will feature one of 30 different SpyderLynk SnapTags, a logo-centric alternative to quick-response (QR) codes. Mobile consumers snap and send a photo of the SnapTag to find out if they are a winner.
Participating consumers have the opportunity to instantly win between $20 and $100 a day in Orbit Bucks. Winners receive a response text detailing the amount of Orbit Bucks they won and information about how to cash in on "Back-to-School" prizes ranging from sunglasses and backpacks to watches and computers. Consumers can participate daily to increase their chances of winning more Orbit Bucks—and more Orbit Bucks gives the consumer access to prizes of greater value.
SpyderLynk SnapTags will also be featured on packs of Juicy Fruit gum to give fans of its wildly popular online video series, the Serenading Unicorn, something to sing about.
"Packaging is the marketing mix tool closest to the consumer, offering marketers an amazing opportunity to influence loyalty and repeat purchase decisions. Wrigley has two innovative programs running this summer to drive purchase frequency for one brand and loyalty for the second brand. We're elated that Wrigley chose SnapTags on packaging to engage consumers," says Nicole Skogg, SpyderLynk founder/CEO.
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Absolutely, said an Eden Prairie couple who opened a new Exercise Coach franchise in Minnetonka that features Exerbotics fitness equipment. Kind of like a car seat that automatically adjusts to saved settings, the equipment tracks and automatically resets machine speeds, resistance levels and other settings to each client’s specifications.
Until recently, the company said, the computerized equipment was mostly available in high-end medical and physical rehabilitation settings but not fitness studios. The Exerbotics equipment is exclusive to Exercise Coach gyms and requires no prescription.
“I am not aware of anything else like this in Minnesota. We really are leading the way,” said Amy Hudson, who just opened the Minnetonka Exercise Coach location with her husband, Jesse, after operating another in Eden Prairie since 2017.
The Exercise Coach’s smart machines employ loaded isometric and eccentric muscle strength training. They use computers, sensors and tracking software to measure, capture and remember each specific client’s fitness settings. The devices are considered a new twist to the $10 billion boutique personal training market and the larger $94 billion fitness club industry.
While high-end fitness companies like Chanhassen-based Life Time let guests’ smartphone or watch apps — such as Apple Gym Kit — track their workouts on cardio machines, the apps don’t robotically adjust machines to customer’s body specs and they don’t communicate with any strength-training equipment, said Life Time spokeswoman Amy Williams.
“It’s something we are looking into,” Williams said. “Right now, it’s really in an uncharted territory here in the United States in terms of health clubs.”
Clients at Exercise Coach work with a personal trainer to set beginning settings for factors such as proper knee and hip alignment and motion range, Hudson said.
On subsequent visits, clients enter their codes, and the equipment adjusts to the individualized settings.
The machines, which can cost up to $15,000 each, also let clients and their personal trainers track and graph results over time.
Dr. Chuck Kelly, co-founder of Physicians Neck and Back Clinic in Roseville, said the tracking and robotic positioning features of the Exerbotics machines “sounds sexy,” but added that the machines are likely to appeal to anybody who wants to isolate specific muscle groups so they can get stronger and healthier. In that sense, he wondered if the concept was all that different from what clients can do at bigger gyms.
The Hudsons said users like their concept and their exclusive machines.
The Eden Prairie location has more than 150 clients and is nearing full capacity. The new Minnetonka location, which opened Oct. 7, has 50 clients paying $25 to $50 a session. Hudson said she and her husband expect to break even on their combined $400,000 investment in less than three years.
Exercise Coach’s parent firm, which is based outside Chicago, holds the exclusive license to use the wide variety of high-tech Exerbotics machines.
CEO Brian Cygan, who co-founded Exercise Coach in 2000, also became the CEO of Exerbotics in 2014. Both companies are headquartered in Lake Zurich, Ill., outside Chicago. Exerbotics machines are contract manufactured for Exercise Coach by a team of mechanical engineers, electronic engineers, software developers and data scientists, Cygan said.
More Minnesota franchises are in the planning stages, but currently the Hudsons’ two gyms are the only Exercise Coach locations in Minnesota, Cygan said.
Exercise Coach has 70 gyms in the United States and 20 in Japan.
“In the next three years, we want 250 locations open in the U.S.,” Cygan said. “We already have 185 franchise locations sold.”
Exercise Coach gyms are outfitted with a variety of Exerbotics machines, including data-tracking leg presses, shoulder pulls, ab and back machines that measure not only strength but also muscle lengthening.
Cygan said the equipment was designed so clients can achieve a full body and cardio workout by visiting the gym just twice a week for 20 minutes each.
The Exercise Coach’s business model is based on clients who don’t like to exercise or who don’t want to spend lots of time in a gym, Hudson said.
“We market to those who don’t enjoy going to the gym,” she said. “It’s the person who is maybe busy and they work a lot of hours, or they are afraid of getting hurt or [are] healing after an illness. They want the benefits of exercise and getting stronger without having to spend a lot of time in the gym.”


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Big social media networks, including Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter are now designated as very large online platforms (VLOPs) by the European Commission, and this means they will have to follow extremely strict requirements as early as this summer.
The Commission has published a list of 19 platforms that will have to comply with the rules the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) – the wide-ranging online content law – imposes on companies.
These networks – 17 are VLOPs, and two are very large online search engines – will be required to swiftly remove illegal content, ensure minors aren’t targeted with personalized ads, and limit the spread of disinformation or harmful content like cyberbullying.
The criteria to be designated a VLOP or a very large search engine is reaching at least 45 million monthly active users in the EU.
Technology should serve people
“Today is the D(SA)-Day for digital regulation. The countdown is starting for 19 very large online platforms and search engines to fully comply with the special obligations that the Digital Services Act imposes on them,” Thierry Breton, European commissioner for Internal Market said.
Margrethe Vestager, the Commission’s executive vice president, under the remit of Europe Fit for a Digital Age, added: “The whole logic of our rules is to ensure that technology serves people and the societies that we live in – not the other way around. The Digital Services Act will bring about meaningful transparency and accountability of platforms and search engines and give consumers more control over their online life.”
The platforms that had to publish user data by February 17 include eight social media companies, five online marketplaces, two search engines, Bing and Google, and other services such as Google Maps or Wikipedia.
The platforms now have four months to comply with the DSA regulations, the essence of which the Commission says is to empower users.
For example, users will have to be clearly informed on why they are recommended certain content and will be able to opt out from recommendation systems based on profiling. They will also be able to report illegal content easily.
The companies will have to stop displaying ads to users based on sensitive data like religion and political opinions. AI-generated content like manipulated videos and photos, known as deepfakes, will have to be labeled.
Fines could be hefty
Companies will also have to conduct yearly assessments of the risks their platforms pose on a range of issues like public health, children’s safety, and freedom of expression. They will be required to detail – in writing – how they are tackling such risks, and the first assessment will have to be finalized by August. The full list of measures can be found here.
External firms will audit the platforms, and the enforcement team in the Commission will access their data and algorithms to check what’s happening. If rules are found to be broken, financial fines could reach up to 6% of the companies’ global annual turnover – and in very serious cases, platforms could face temporary bans in the EU.
Breton said Twitter had already invited his team to visit its headquarters in the US and carry out a stress test. TikTok, under heavy fire in the US where Congress is mooting a nationwide ban of the platform, has also reportedly asked for checks from the Commission in advance.
The Commission, eager to reign in Big Tech, proposed the DSA as a “comprehensive framework to ensure a safer, more fair digital space for all” back in 2020. The pan-European law entered into force in November 2022.
The DSA applies to all digital services that connect consumers to goods, services, or content. It creates comprehensive new obligations for online platforms to reduce harms and counter risks online, introduces strong protections for users' rights online, and places digital platforms under a unique new transparency and accountability framework, the Commission says.
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TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – Animal-free dairy producer and developer Remilk learned its BLG protein may now be used and sold in another North American country, with the company receiving a “letter of no objection” from Health Canada.
Remilk shared that the official green light from Canada signals its protein can be an ingredient in milk, ice cream, yogurt, cream cheese and other products sold in that country.
The food tech developer said products made with its animal-free protein are lactose-free, contain neither cholesterol nor growth hormones, and come with nutritional and environmental benefits. Remilk shared that its BLG milk protein, produced with precision fermentation, is equivalent to its traditional counterpart found in cow’s milk.
"This is an important day for us at Remilk, and a historic one for Canada as it opens its doors to the new-dairy revolution,” said the company’s co-founder and chief executive officer, Aviv Wolff. “We developed a strategic roadmap for regulatory approvals around the world, recognizing that CPG companies seek solutions that benefit consumers throughout North America.”
In early 2023, Remilk received a “no questions letter" from the United States Food and Drug Administration, as well as regulatory approval from the Singapore Food Authority.
Wolff said the company prioritized Canada in its regulatory strategy, following the FDA’s stamp of approval.
"There's a lot to love in dairy, which is why we set out to create a solution that will enable consumers to enjoy the taste of the dairy they love, without dairy's environmental and health-related drawbacks,” Wolff said. “The recognition from Health Canada, which follows years of R&D and major investments by Remilk, led to this pivotal moment, enabling a substantial market entry."
The Israel-based animal-free protein manufacturer produces its ingredient at commercial scale at a number of worldwide locations.


text: NEW YORK (5/19/10)--Credit unions are good places for consumers to look for low interest rates on credit cards, Forbes.com said Monday. In an article titled, “Where the Low Credit Card Rates are Hiding,” writer Asher Hawkins said Forbes has urged readers for a long time to look into the benefits of joining a credit union. “There are eligibility rules for these organizations as well, but chances are there’s at least one credit union you’ll be eligible to join,” Hawkins wrote. “Credit unions have become increasingly attractive as consumers tire of high rates and various fees charged on plastic issued by big commercial banks,” he added. To read the article, use the link.


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Digital is on the rise, and not just when it comes to brands’ and retailers’ consumer-facing interactions. Faire, which hosts seasonal events on its footwear, apparel and accessories pre-order marketplace, is expanding its reach with a new event bringing brands and buyers to come together.
Faire Fashion Week, a global buying and selling event, will take place on the virtualized B2B platform starting Aug. 30, it said. Running through Sept. 3, the affair will showcase up to 2,500 emerging and established apparel and footwear labels from 80 countries, including Just Black Denim, PX Clothing and Amy Byer.
The forthcoming event will build upon the success of Faire’s February Winter Market. “The marketplace proved to be critical for retailers looking to lock in the best inventory and plan ahead, and helped brands triple their preorders sales ahead of upcoming seasons,” Faire wrote on its blog this week.
Faire decided to create a dedicated shopping week for brands to highlight their latest designs to a community of 200,000 independent retailers “after seeing more than a 10x increase in preorder demand on Faire over the past year.” As an added incentive, buyers will receive 20 percent off orders of seasonal styles totaling more than $1,000 from any single brand at the event, funded by Faire.
The event will also offer increased term limits requiring no payment from retailers up front, helping them to secure inventory while managing cash flow. Payment is charged to retailers 60 days after their order ships, giving them time to sell through merchandise before paying for it. Retailers can also test styles in store and return the product that fails to sell through without penalty for 60 days, incentivizing them to try out new brands, Faire added.
Established in 2016, Faire founder Max Rhodes aimed to help retailers discover unique wholesale goods for their stores, while giving nascent brands exposure to a greater breadth of opportunities to sell their wares. During 2020, the platform saw an uptick in interest as physical trade shows were put on the back burner, and both brands and buyers moved operations increasingly online. Last June, Faire said it saw demand for apparel on its platform jump by 50 percent from just three months prior.
Lauren Cooks Levitan, Faire’s chief financial officer, told Sourcing Journal in February that the company’s best decision throughout the course of the pandemic was launching its virtual trade show model, which it believes represents the future for the wholesale community. “So much of the industry is built on connection,” she said, “however, the pandemic accelerated what was already beginning to happen with trade shows.”
“As business shifted online, it became evident that the traditional model needed to change in order to continue bringing value to retailers,” she added, noting that Faire launched its first Summer Market event last August. The experience “proved instrumental for small businesses looking for a safe and effective alternative to in-person shows,” she said, and the company has since pivoted to “invest in this efficient buying format long term.”


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Gingerbread for European Galaxy S Gets Halted
Word came down over the weekend that Vodafone customers were seeing a Gingerbread update for their Samsung Galaxy S handsets. Awesome, right? Not so fast. Today we’ve learned that someone has stopped the update dead in its tracks. According to the carrier, Google is responsible for killing off the 2.3 rollout. It is said that the problem behind the update is not universal and that Vodafone phones are unaffected. Engadget feels this is yet another bump in the Samsung road and we see no reason to disagree. Hopefully the issue gets resolved in short order and the updates get back on track.
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- by Jon Fingas11.05.2017
Just because Sprint was jilted at the altar doesn't mean its weekend was all bad. The carrier has struck a deal that will turn Altice (the French company that bought CableVision) into an American wireless provider. Under the agreement, Altice USA will have "full" use of Sprint's network for nationwide voice and data service. In return, Altice will use its broadband network to help Sprint "densify" its coverage as it adds legions of small cell sites.
- by Andrew Dalton11.30.2016
Altice USA may not be the most recognized ISP name out there, but the country's fourth-largest provider is about to get a big upgrade over the next five years or so. According to the company's roadmap, Altice plans to bring high-speed, 10 Gbps fiber lines directly to its 8.3 million customers starting in 2017.
- by Billy Steele04.07.2016
Almost a year ago, Cablevision announced plans to become the first cable provider to offer Hulu through its regular service. Today, the on-demand streaming option is finally being added to Optimum TV on the company's current-gen set-top boxes. What's more, customers can access Hulu's library of content just like any other channel. From there, users can browse the full collection of content in further detail. To get Hulu to its customer's set-top boxes, Cablevision is leveraging ActiveVideo's CloudTV StreamCast technology. If you'll recall, Netflix already made the leap to some cable boxes with its lineup of streaming content.
- by Daniel Cooper10.26.2015
For an industry obsessed with accuracy, it seems hilarious that the broadband speeds that you pay for are so vague and ill-defined in reality. It's a situation that has angered New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (pictured), so he's launching a statewide probe into users internet speeds. Reuters is reporting that the official is targeting the state's big three providers, Verizon, Cablevision and Time Warner to see if, as he says, "many of us may be paying for one thing and getting another." The three firms have all been sent letters asking them to provide all disclosures made to customers about speed, as well as the details of any internal testing that they carry out.
- by Jon Fingas10.18.2015
And just like that, Cablevision's feud with Viacom over channel bundling is over. The two TV giants have settled their antitrust lawsuits with promises that they're making "mutually beneficial business arrangements." Neither side is saying what those arrangements are, however, and it's not clear whether or not Cablevision is getting a better deal than what it had in 2012. This ruckus started because Cablevision didn't like being forced to carry niche Viacom channels to get the big channels it wanted -- this whole exercise would be pointless if the company didn't get either a discount or more control. With that said, it wouldn't be shocking if Cablevision's soon-to-be owner, Altice, pushed for a hasty compromise to prevent the lawsuits (and the resulting government scrutiny) from interfering with its big purchase. [Image credit: Jin Lee/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
- by Steve Dent09.17.2015
Cablevision, an iconic US cable TV company founded in 1973, has been purchased by France's Altice for $17.7 billion. The sale has been approved by shareholders and is expected to go through in the first half of 2016. "Nearly half a century later, the time is right for new ownership of Cablevision and its considerable assets," said CEO James L. Dolan. Not included in those assets, however, is Cablevision's Madison Square Garden company -- the Dolan family will keep the downtown New York arena, along with Radio City Music Hall and the Rangers and Knicks pro sports franchises. It's also holding onto AMC Networks, the home of Mad Men, Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead.
- by Richard Lawler08.25.2015
Need more evidence that cable TV is giving way to internet TV? Cablevision just announced its new TV deal with CBS includes a provision for it to sell CBS All Access and Showtime streaming to its internet-only Optimum customers. Cablevision is already offering internet customers a way to bundle HBO Now or Hulu streaming with their bill, and now this adds another option. There's no pricing info for CBS or Showtime yet, but if it follows the setup for 'cord-cutting' with HBO and Hulu, we wouldn't expect any deep discounting. While Dish Network and Verizon chose one path to wrap up deals for internet TV during their usual negotiations with channels and content providers, Cablevision is going another, and even Comcast has its own plans. Welcome to the new look of cable.
- by Jon Fingas06.24.2015
If you subscribe to Cablevision's standard Optimum Online service, we have good news: you're getting a free upgrade. The company has boosted the download speed on its core internet tier from 15Mbps to 25Mbps, making this basic option much more viable for 4K video and other downstream-heavy tasks. It's not necessarily an altruistic gesture, mind you. That 25Mbps figure conveniently meets the FCC's new minimum definition of broadband -- this may be as much about keeping regulators happy as anything else. Whatever the reason, it'll make a big difference if it saves you from signing up for costlier Ultra access just to get that HBO show just a little bit sooner. [Image credit: Shutterstock]
- by Richard Lawler04.28.2015
Cablevision was already the first provider to start pushing HBO Now for its internet subscribers, and today it's announcing a deal with Hulu. The two have reached an agreement to bring Hulu's VOD catalog to Optimum customers, but exactly what that means is unclear. Unlike the HBO announcement, this news isn't specifically targeted at internet customers, and according to reps, details on pricing and availability will come later. We don't know if Hulu's content will be coming to cable boxes, or if the subscription Hulu Plus service will just be available as an add-on bundle for TV and/or internet subscribers. Tim Connoly, SVP of distribution at Hulu said in the press release "Even with the rapid growth in streaming, there is a huge audience that consumes television through their cable provider, and we want to be there for them too."
- by Roberto Baldwin04.23.2015
It looks like Cablevision is covering all of its bases. Today the company announced "Cord Cutter" packages that include a free digital antenna and access to its Optimum WiFi network. Additionally, Cablevision is offering the option of adding HBO Now to the service, making it the first ever cable provider to do so. With pay-TV losing customers to streaming services, it makes sense for these companies to offer broadband-only packages. In a statement, CEO Kristin Dolan, said: "Our new 'cord cutter' packages take a modern approach to traditional triple-product bundles and provide real alternatives that fit new consumer lifestyles."
- by Richard Lawler04.08.2015
It's here -- HBO without cable or satellite. Since HBO Now is live, the network is taking the logical next step -- tracking down folks that said they'd love to pay for its content and asking them to put their money where their tweets are. Last week it was replying to tweets received years ago, and today the marketing campaign took another step by including Jake Caputo, the founder of takemymoneyHBO.com, and a couple of special guests from The Sopranos. HBO Now has its own limitations (you'll need Apple devices and/or Cablevision internet to sign up), but since it's here and the content is mirrored from HBO Go, are you ready to sign up -- or at least jump on the month-long free trial?
- by Jon Fingas03.16.2015
You'd think that cable companies would be the mortal enemies of internet-only TV services, but that's apparently not always the case. Cablevision has forged a deal to offer HBO Now to both its internet subscribers and those who use its Optimum WiFi access points. There's no details as to pricing or whether or not the offering will be available the moment HBO Now launches in April, but it won't be surprising if the service costs you around the $15 per month announced at Apple's March 9th event. Will other internet providers follow suit? It's hard to say. While HBO Now is potentially useful for preventing would-be cord cutters from ditching cable altogether (by letting them switch to cheaper TV packages), telecoms like Comcast and Verizon haven't been fond of online video services in the past.
- by Richard Lawler02.06.2015
The all-WiFi phone service Cablevision announced in January is now available. Unlike the usual mobile carrier, the Freewheel phone (currently a $100 second generation Moto G) only operates on WiFi -- to keep costs down it doesn't look for 3G, LTE or any other kind of signal. Of course, if you're consistently in the range of wireless hotspots then that's not a problem, and it's pre-programmed to log in to any of 1.1 million Optimum hotspots in the New York area or "Cable WiFi" hotspots elsewhere. As promised, it's $10 per month for customers with Cablevision's internet service or $30 without, all to get unlimited calling, data and text messaging with no annual contract.
- by Daniel Cooper01.26.2015
In large metropolitan areas that are covered with WiFi, you might start to wonder why you pay for a cellular service at all. It's this germ of an idea that has inspired Cablevision to announce Freewheel: a WiFi-based phone service that offers unlimited talk, text and data with no annual contract. The catch, if you hadn't already guessed, is that you'll only be able to use those minutes and MBs while you're in range of the nearest WiFi hotspot.
- by Edgar Alvarez06.03.2014
Whether it is on a smartphone, tablet or laptop, being able to watch live television outside your home network is pretty great. Cablevision, through the Optimum App, has been letting its cable customers do this for some time now, but it's about to get much better. The service provider today announced that it is baking the "TV to Go" feature right into its Optimum App, allowing you to have access to over 100 channels even when you're away from home. This includes both live and on-demand content, from networks such as beIN Sports, CNN, Disney, ESPN, NBC, NFL and a lot more -- naturally, access to these will be determined by which Optimum TV package you pay for. The revamped Optimum App service is available now on the web, iOS, Android and Kindle Fire tablets.
- by Joseph Volpe12.12.2013
Big media may have thought its deep pockets and love of ceaseless litigation would break Aereo's bank and spirit, but the cloud-based DVR company is sticking to its guns. In a statement released just today, Aereo head Chet Kanojia said that his company wouldn't oppose a petition brought against the company by ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC, setting the table for a case in the Supreme Court. Kanojia echoed much of what Cablevision itself expressed in a white paper earlier today, saying that he believes the end goal of this court battle could ultimately strike down a 2008 ruling in favor of Cablevision's cloud DVR tech, which laid the groundwork for many of the cloud-based services we enjoy today. Though Aereo and Cablevision are in different positions when it comes to retransmission fees, both parties argue that the broadcasters' suit, if successful, could slow or even reverse the trend of technological progress, innovation and consumer choice. For Aereo's part, a potential Supreme Court case could also provide a much-needed light at the end of the tunnel -- a final ruling in a recent string of lower court victories that would free up its resources and allow the company to pursue nationwide expansion unburdened. That's if the Supreme Court even decides to hear the case -- it declined to hear an appeal on Cablevision's remote storage DVR in 2009 -- as that decision won't come until sometime in 2014.
- by Marc Perton12.12.2013
Cable operator Cablevision agrees with its competitors that streaming startup Aereo is illegal, but warns that the legal approach taken by the other cable and broadcasting giants could render services like Apple's iCloud, Amazon's Cloud Player -- and, of course, Cablevision's own remote DVR service -- illegal. In a white paper released today, Cablevision expanded on earlier arguments it made against both Aereo and the rest of the indusry, saying that the approach taken against Aereo "would imperil consumers' rights to use innovative technologies, such as popular digital locker services like the Apple iCloud, Amazon Cloud Player and Google Play Music."
- by Jon Fingas12.11.2013
Comcast and Twitter made it easy to watch TV online when they launched their SeeIt social platform, but the service has only been truly useful for Comcast customers watching NBCUniversal shows. It's about to become much more relevant, though, as Comcast has reached deals with nine new channel and TV service providers. ABC, A&E Networks, AMC, Cablevision, Charter, Crown Media Family Networks, Discovery, Fox and Time Warner Cable should all support SeeIt's "watch now" links in tweets as soon as the first quarter of 2014. You also won't need to sign up for Comcast service to get the full experience -- the new SeeIt deal will let Cablevision, Charter and TWC TV subscribers both tune their set-top boxes and record programming without ever grabbing the TV remote. There will still be gaps in SeeIt's coverage in the wake of these agreements, but don't be surprised if it's ubiquitous in the near future.
- by Timothy J. Seppala07.25.2013
Are you a Cablevision subscriber with a Galaxy S III (T-Mobile, US Cellular or unlocked), Galaxy S IV or Galaxy Express (AT&T) handset? Awesome, because now you can watch live and on-demand TV from your phone via the company's Optimum app. More than that, Optimum can do double duty as a clicker for your screen as well as manage recording schedules and content. The cable provider also announced that its cloud-based Multi-Room DVR would triple the storage capacity for recorded video -- jumping to 300 hours of standard-def, 75 hours of high-def or some combination of the two. Maybe what's most exciting is that now you can record 10 shows or movies at once. This should give even the most avid time-shifted TV-watcher a ton of freedom and eliminate a potential Sophie's Choice between Law & Order: SVU, 2 Broke Girls and Antiques Roadshow. Yeah, our tastes are what you might call "diverse."
- by Edgar Alvarez07.16.2013
Mayor Bloomberg's government is often finding ways to keep The Big Apple as connected to the internet as can be. Today, in an effort to bring more connectivity options to its residents (and tourists), the City of New York announced that it's teaming up with Cablevision and Time Warner Cable to add WiFi hotspots to 32 parks across the five boroughs. Of course, these will be available in addition to free services already provided by companies such as AT&T in select parts of the city. Unlike with similar offerings, however, these new hotspots will require potential users to be Cablevision Optimum Online or Time Warner Cable broadband subscribers in order to get free access. Those who have the proper credentials will be able to connect gratis via a WiFi-enabled device anytime, while non-subscribers can do so at no cost for up to 30 minutes every 30 days, or for 99 cents per day. The full list of participating NYC parks can be found after the break, and fret not if your favorite didn't make it -- we're told WiFi is "coming soon" to more locations.


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Tokyo: Japan’s Honda Motor reported a small drop in annual profits, snapping a five-year record-breaking streak as it battles tough competition in its home market and higher costs.
The automaker predicted a further decline in profits this year owing to high raw material costs.
Honda posted net earnings of 592.3 billion yen ($5) for the fiscal year to March, better than its own forecast for a 560 billion yen profit but 0.8% less than the previous year’s 597.0 billion.
Operating profit dropped by 2% to 851.9 billion yen while revenue grew by roughly 12% to a record 11.09 trillion yen, helped by a weaker yen, the automaker said in a statement.
Honda said the decline was mainly the result of the negative impact of the change in its model mix, soaring raw material costs, increased spending on research and development as well as higher general expenses.
The absence of a one-off gain booked a year earlier from pension related gains also weighed on Honda’s bottom line, offsetting the positive impact of higher revenue, cost reduction effects and a weaker yen, it added.
“Even though we saw a decline in profits, sales especially in four-wheel vehicles saw growth in North America, Asia as well as Europe,” said Honda vice president Satoshi Aoki.
Honda’s automobile sales in Japan decreased by 3.4% in the year to 672,000 vehicles, while overseas sales were up 10.6% to 2.980 million.
Honda forecast a further decline in earnings in the current fiscal year to March 2008, when it expects net profit to fall 2.9% to 575 billion yen and operating profit to slide 9.6 percent to 770 billion yen.
Sales, however, are expected to grow 6% to 11.75 trillion yen but the boost to earnings will be offset by rising raw materials costs, increased research and development spending and capital investment, Aoki said.
The automaker said it was also basing its forecasts on the assumption that the yen will strengthen this year against other major currencies.
The earnings downturn at Honda follows five consecutive years of record profits at Honda, which like other Japanese automakers has enjoyed brisk sales in the US market even as local automakers General Motors and Ford struggle.
For the fourth quarter alone Honda’s net profit fell by 19.7% from a year earlier to 176.1 billion yen.
Operating profit slumped by 26.6% to 250.2 billion yen while revenue increased by 9% to 3.09 trillion yen.
The results contrast with the fortunes of Japan’s number one automaker Toyota, which is expected to report later this month a seventh consecutive year of record profits after overtaking General Motors as the global top seller.
Nissan Motor Co., however, has forecast an 11% drop in net profits in the year to March due to sluggish sales, and is expected to unveil fresh restructuring measures when it announces its annual results on Thursday.


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The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has debunked rumours circulating within the industry that, funds for the purchase of cocoa for the 2016\2017 crop season, are unavailable.
A statement issued in Accra last week by the Public Affairs Department, assured stakeholders, especially farmers, that sufficient funds, had been released to qualified Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to purchase cocoa.
It added that, only after cocoa was purchased equivalent to the amount released, and delivered that additional funds were disbursed for purchases.
The statement said, the $1.8 billion syndicated loan secured by the COCOBOD, was being used to finance the purchase of cocoa and reiterated that the producer price, as announced by government, was still at GH¢475.00 per bag of 64kg gross weight.
The statement further reiterated COCOBOD’s commitment to advance the cause of farmers by ensuring that they receive prompt payment for their produce, as well as implement strategic measures to make cocoa farming a profitable venture.


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"ReAct with FranceTV Publicité", the new range of advertising solutions for sectors heavily affected by the crisis
FranceTV Publicité is committed to playing a leading role in the economic recovery and is kicking things off by supporting companies in most COVID-19 crisis affected sectors and that require an immediate boost to their sales.
As of June 5th, the new “ReAct with FranceTV Publicité” range of advertising solutions is supporting most impacted sectors, including VSE/SMEs, companies promoting responsible initiatives and local employment, as well as “Made in France” activity through specially dedicated slots.
As part of its “ReAct with FranceTV Publicité” scheme, the network aims to help companies in the many sectors affected by the crisis by making available its expertise and audience quality.
- Travel/Tourism sectors: going on holiday in France is a great opportunity for people to help boost the sector’s recovery. “Destination France” packages provide brands with the opportunity to enhance their classic TV commercials by promoting their offers (promotion, destination) on a clickable premium digital slot, broadcast to a “data travelers” target. Brands can also benefit from a TV presence on three contextualized screens simultaneously on the last slot before 8pm, or from sponsoring flagship France Télévisions programs.
- Automotive sector: all advertising on green vehicle models is being given increased visibility on France Télévisions, both on TV and digitally.
Finally, attractive offers are aimed at the local community of VSE/SMEs, providing them with access to national and regional TV at competitive rates.
The “ReAct with FranceTV Publicité” range is available on all the network’s media to enable communication on conventional TV, via sponsorship, digitally, and through brand content with the Lab, FranceTV Publicité’s special operations unit.


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In today’s Media Beat video, Mediabistro‘s Donya Blaze spoke with Google’s VP of consumer products Marissa Mayer about location-based technology and its prospects. Research has shown that users haven’t flocked to location-based apps like Google Places. Mayer says that everyone is still trying to get a feel for what they offer.
“We’re still experimenting with what are the incentives,” she says in the clip. Among the questions are “What’s the user value proposition?”
Mayer also talks about her new role with the company and Google’s thwarted bid to purchase Groupon.
Check it out here. Parts two and three air tomorrow and Wednesday.
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The holiday season is synonymous with shopping, or in other words, putting a snowball-sized dent in your wallet. The good news? According to Discover's annual holiday shopping survey, many consumers plan to turn some of their holiday shopping into cashback and other rewards. This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161115005420/en/
When it comes to converting credit card rewards, 67% of consumers say they prefer to earn cashback during the holidays, while 16% prefer to earn travel rewards. (Graphic: Business Wire)The survey found that consumers plan to spend an average of $1,159 this holiday season, with much of the holiday tab being charged to their credit cards. Thirty-eight percent of those surveyed say they'll use a credit card for most of their holiday purchases, making credit cards the most popular form of payment during the holidays. That's followed by 28 percent who say they'll mostly use a debit card, 19 percent who say they'll pay cash for most purchases and 8 percent who will favor redeeming gifts cards or rewards/points. Of those who plan to use a credit card for most of their holiday shopping, 46 percent say their biggest reason for doing so is to earn rewards. That's compared to 27 percent who cite convenience, 16 percent who cite the ability to track their spending and 11 percent who say they won't have enough cash on hand. Among credit card users, 33 percent say they focus on earning rewards while holiday shopping, compared to 10 percent who say they focus on redeeming rewards. Thirty percent say they are equally focused on earning and redeeming rewards.